36. Serpent's Shadow in the Sky.
Shenzhou, one of the world's largest nations.
Schicksal controls Europe and West Asia, while Anti-Entropy is entrenched in North America. As the two major organizations combating the Honkai, they have deeply integrated with various nations. Shenzhou, a major power in East Asia, relies on its substantial strength and equally advanced technological level to remarkably maintain sovereignty and neutrality between these two factions.
Of course, this is also related to the fact that neither Schicksal nor Anti-Entropy truly intends to polarize the world. Thus, Shenzhou managed to recover its national strength amidst the aftermath of the Second and Third Honkai Eruptions and has also reached numerous cooperation agreements with both Schicksal and Anti-Entropy.
"Both Schicksal and Anti-Entropy are formally permitted to operate as guests in Shenzhou. But conversely, the Overseer also doesn't want our actions here to cause dissatisfaction among the local authorities—this is a covert operation."
Under the night sky, a high-speed transport aircraft hovers over a sprawling megacity. In the darkness, skyscrapers gleam with brilliant neon lights. Even at night, this super-sized city remains exceptionally bustling and lively.
Since the Second Honkai Eruption, increasingly frequent small-scale Honkai incidents have occurred. Recognizing that small settlements like towns and villages lack the capacity to resist, humanity began collectively migrating to large cities. Over time, massive cities began emerging across the land. The Arc City ahead is one such megacity, home to tens of millions of people.
Inside the high-speed transport, several dozen Valkyries clad in Immortal Blades uniforms are making their final preparations and checks. Each wears a combat visor covering their face, their movements unified and precise.
At the center of the transport, Rita Rossweisse, deputy captain of the Immortal Blades and an S-Class Valkyrie of Schicksal, already armored in her black, white, and green combat suit, is briefing the Valkyries on the mission details. Her usual gentle maid aura is gone; now, bearing a giant sickle crackling with electricity, she has transformed into a valiant warrior.
"After landing, everyone must immediately establish a permanent preparation base. We will be staying in Arc City for a while. Tonight's mission, I will handle alone. Alvitr, Gao Qi, the setup of the base is your responsibility. When I return tomorrow morning, I expect to see a fully protected and comprehensively equipped facility."
Halfway through assigning the tasks, Rita smiled and looked towards the busiest person in the transport—the only male in the cabin. He was currently retrieving a black-and-green mechanical case from an equipment crate and pressing a button on it.
Rita had to admit that transferring Mr. Gao Qi under her authority involved a fair bit of personal motive. But it turned out she had indeed found a treasure.
Not long ago, this man, in front of dozens of Valkyries, openly "assaulted" Bianka, giving her a big hug. Rita had met Bianka five years ago, becoming her adjutant under the Overseer's orders. Being five years older, she had watched Bianka grow up day by day,considering herself an older sister—perhaps even with a touch of maternal affection.
Seeing the cabbage she'd carefully nurtured get seemingly trampled by some wild boar was hard to tolerate. Even with her good temper, Rita wanted to teach him a lesson. However, Bianka, for some reason, didn't avoid or resist but hugged him back, seeming to enjoy it. This left Rita in a dilemma—her cabbage seemed quite happy to be trampled!
Rita felt she might need to find time to have a good talk with Bianka. After all, she was already 17, and entering adolescence was normal... But regardless, Rita couldn't possibly allow this guy, Gao Qi, to follow Bianka to North Africa. Who knows if, by the time her mission in Sky Dome ended, the two would have already cooked the rice? Novels and TV dramas always depicted it that way!
After much thought, Rita decided to keep this man, Gao Qi, by her side, at least to properly observe his character first.
According to his records, Gao Qi had no issues. He was an international student from Shenzhou studying in Vienna. After the Fourth Honkai Eruption, he was found by a Schicksal rescue team during post-disaster search operations in Vienna. After recovering from his injuries, he joined Schicksal.
And facts proved he was indeed talented in logistics. Since departing from Schicksal Headquarters, this newcomer quickly adapted to the work. After a brief introduction by Alvitr, he began re-categorizing the combat supplies. Once familiar, the time to fully equip all Valkyries was reduced by thirty percent.
"Understood, Deputy Captain Rita. Mission assured. This is for you—the mechanical dog. Wow, it's really cute."
Nearby, the black-green mechanical box suddenly transformed with a series of shifts, morphing into a sleek mechanical hound. Gao Qi couldn't resist scratching its chin, then picked up this "Gene Reaper" and walked over to Rita.
"If you have any special requests, you can let me know. I can purchase some local ingredients for everyone. I specifically looked it up online; Sky Dome has many local specialty foods~~"
Handing the dog to Rita, Gao Qi chattered away without stopping his work, distributing the SP-draining EMP grenades from behind him to the Immortal Blades Valkyries.
He was currently wearing the same black-and-green uniform as the Immortal Blades ladies, with a half-covering visor on his head.
Of course, unlike the rather alluring Valkyrie combat suits that revealed fair thighs and shoulders, Gao Qi's outfit was a mechanical exoskeleton. Without a Honkai energy reactor, it appeared stiff and sluggish compared to the MANTIS combat suits.
However, in front of these Valkyries, Gao Qi still had to maintain the low profile of an ordinary person, so he could only obediently wear this awkward combat suit.
Having worked in logistics both in Schicksal and the MOTH, Gao Qi was now very familiar with this kind of work, significantly lightening Alvitr's load. Finally having a high-level tool to share the burden, the moved Tool-chan almost felt like offering herself to him.
"Of course, I specifically brought some beverage machines. Whether you'd like coffee, milk tea, or any other drink, Miss Rita, you and everyone else can make your requests to me. It's quite cold outside; having a cup of ginger ale cola after completing a mission wouldn't be a bad idea."
Having served the ladies of Mobius's lab for so long, Gao Qi truly felt somewhat unaccustomed to being idle. Fortunately, he could continue looking after the Valkyries of Immortal Blades.
"Great, great! I want ice cream milk tea—ah, never mind."
Beside them, Alvitir, who was also moving goods, immediately raised her hand excitedly. Several other Valkyries were also quite tempted, but upon meeting Rita's calm gaze, they swallowed their words.
"Then we'll trouble Mr. Gao Qi, but those are matters for outside of missions. From now on, everyone will operate mainly during the day, under civilian identities, focusing on reconnaissance and investigation of the following targets, primarily Shencheng Pharmaceutical Company. Third squad, you're responsible for..."
Assigning tasks methodically one by one, for some reason, Rita suddenly felt a sense of threat from the man before her. Not in terms of combat, but rather... her position and professionalism as a maid were facing a severe challenge.
[You're challenging me, thinking you're more suitable to take care of Bianka than I am, right?]
Her expression unchanged, Rita silently accepted this challenge in her heart.
However, Gao Qi didn't know that someone was secretly competing with him. He just quietly looked out over the bustling city, hoping to help those in need.
[Kiana, Fu Hua... I will help you from the shadows.]
——————
In a quiet bar located in the bustling downtown area of Skyline City, a young woman with black hair and red eyes was swiftly and professionally shaking a cocktail shaker, her technique flashy and exquisite.
"The bar is already closed. What brings the chairman of Shencheng Pharmaceutical to visit my small establishment, Hu Lang? My little bar isn't qualified to host someone of your stature."
Watching the long-haired woman wearing a jackal mask push the door open and enter, the bartender stopped her movements, pouring the drink into a glass.
"What's wrong? Can't I come see an old friend? Besides, Raven, you're a consultant for our Shencheng Pharmaceutical, and my subordinate. Isn't it natural for me to check in on you?"
The woman called Hu Lang reached for the glass, but Raven snatched it away and poured it into her own mouth.
"You and I are not friends, and I've never received a consultant's salary. Cut the nonsense, Hu Lang. What's my mission?"
The two women locked eyes, clearly at odds with each other.
"Do you two just love to argue? Are you rivals in love, fighting over a man? From what I understand, only females competing for a mate exhibit such aggressiveness—or are you fighting over a woman?"
But the next second, a third figure suddenly appeared at the bar's entrance. It was tall but overly thin, moving somewhat stiffly, holding an umbrella on a sunny day. Its face under the hood was covered by machinery, as if it weren't alive.
Hu Lang and Raven instinctively stepped back but quickly regained their composure, looking at it with wariness.
"Grey Serpent, you should learn to knock."
"Apologies, I'm not very familiar with manners."
Grey Serpent shrugged. Behind it, a petite girl with light green hair timidly peeked out. She had extensive mechanical modifications all over her body.
Raven couldn't help but frown. She knew that was a child "saved" by Grey Serpent, but now, her brain seemed to be connected to a quantum computer—whether she could still be considered human was debatable.
"The participants for this banquet have all gathered. Raven, Hu Lang, immediately closely monitor the movements of Schicksal and Anti-Entropy. Retrieve Kiana Kaslana before they do."
Patting the little girl's head, a hint of excitement tinged Grey Serpent's mechanical voice.
"Disposal of the Second Herrscher is flexible. M—ahem, The Sovereign said, He only needs that 'feather' in her mind."
Then, Grey Serpent and the little girl, hand in hand, quickly walked out of the bar, leaving behind a statement and two women with solemn expressions.
"The Sovereign has awakened. Everyone, begin to play your roles as pawns!"
"The era of the Serpent is about to begin!"
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?